Photo by ekelly80

>> Even though Metro is trying to make it easier for all riders to buy and use SmarTrip cards, the Post reports that vending machines that were supposed to appear in every station have been delayed because they do not comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The vending machines do not have audio functions and Braille as they’re supposed to, pushing back their installation in some stations and leaving them covered up and unusable in others.

>> Did you know that D.C. has an Advisory Committee on Acupuncture? It’s among the hundreds of boards and commissions that are littered throughout the government, and the Examiner reports that Mayor Vince Gray will propose getting rid or consolidating at least 63 of them. Upon taking office, Gray was faced with 700 appointments to the many boards and commissions, many of which remain unfilled. He will propose scrapping many of the boards or simply merging related ones.

>> Victory! President Obama signed legislation yesterday that will move a D.C. statue of Frederick Douglass to the U.S. Capitol, writes the Washington Times. D.C. officials have long fought to get the two statues afforded to every state in the Capitol complex, but have met resistance from Republicans that say that since D.C. isn’t a state it shouldn’t get the same rights. A compromise was hatched under which D.C. would get one statue, while a second statue of Pierre L’Enfant will remain in a D.C. government building.

>> Hey, it’s iPhone5 day! That means people will weirdly be lining up outside Apple stores in the region for first crack at yet another gadget. WJLA has got the details.

Briefly Noted: Alleged Dupont Circle groper is an illegal immigrant … Man involved in 2010 killing of DCPS principal shot dead … Queen of Sweden visits construction site in D.C. … Union says D.C. Jail guards feel unsafe, need more staff … Victim of beaver attack just wants to be left alone.

This Day in DCist: On this in 2011, we discovered that everybody hurts (especially drunk drivers) and D.C. Fire & EMS’ Twitter feed went silent. In 2010, a Green Party candidate for a Maryland Senate seat died after being hit by an SUV as she rode her bike.